The bas-relief from the Petru Rareș high school

The artistic heritage of the municipality of Piatra-Neamţ was enriched in 1924 with a tribute monument dedicated to the founders of the "Petru Rareş" High School: Ion Negre, Calistrat Hogaş and Mihai Stamatin. Their faces were fixed in bronze by the sculptor Mihai Onofrei.

The Italians Carol Zani, construction contractor, and Vincenzo Puschiasis, stone sculptor, also participated in the creation of the stone sculptures that decorate the memorial monument at the "Petru Rareş" National College. He carved the background stone, carved the rectangular border decorated with two laurel wreaths and the relief profile of the goddess Athena, placed at the base of the work.

The three bronze medallions, sculpted by Onofrei occupy the upper area of the composition: in the middle, viewed from the front, there is the bas-relief bust of Calistrat Hogaş, on the left, the bas-relief profile of Ion Negre and on the right the one of Mihai Stamatin. The portraits are realistic, they have expressive features, the focused looks capture the interest of the viewers. Their position and the decorative elements give rhythm and symmetry to the unitary and balanced ensemble.

 

The monument was inaugurated on July 26, 1926, the event being attended by numerous residents, members of the "Popular Athenaeum" association, the initiators of the project, high school students and the sculptor Onofrei. In the tribute speech, the then director of the high school, V.A. Trifu, spoke the following words: "You, the young generation, who tomorrow will support on your shoulders the heavy but expensive burden of our nation,... take an example from our ancestors...".